6th EIBD to provide recommendations to CEPA negotiations

16.01.17Aktuelles

Conference key to ensuring the voices of private stakeholders are heard, further guaranteeing a balanced and long-term framework in future negotiations.

The 6th EU-Indonesia Business Dialogue (EIBD) held in at the InterContinental Hotel Jakarta Midplaza on November 8 is a key platform in ensuring that the voices of private stakeholders are heard in lieu of the ongoing negotiations for the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

This was the message of the Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla who opened the event for the hundreds of guests and delegations from the Indonesian-European business communities, as well high level representatives from both sides’ governments.

“We export a lot to Europe. We can do better with technological assistance from Europe. Our businessmen need that cooperation and exchange of ideas. This is connected to the trust and cooperation that has been developed between our countries. That’s why this is an important event in increasing exports, as well as trade and investment,” he said in his keynote speech.

Already an established landmark event, this year’s EIBD is also important as it is held amidst the early phases of official negotiations between Indonesia and Europe for the Indonesia-EU CEPA. The first round of negotiations was held in Brussels in September of this year. The next round of talks was scheduled be held sometime in January 2017.

In light of this recent development, this year’s EIBD adopted the topic of “CEPA, Enhancing the EU – Indonesia Partnership: A New Framework for Bilateral Trade and Investment”, in which the conference would address policy and structural challenges concerning the CEPA not only in general terms but also within specific sectors, namely agriculture, food and beverage, automotive, healthcare (pharmaceutical and medical technology) as well as transport and logistic.

Following the conference, the high level executives from European and Indonesian companies would then discuss common recommendations from their respective sectors in terms of growth, competitiveness and sustainability, presenting them to senior representatives of the Indonesian Government and the European Commission.

"The ultimate aim is to enable a trade and investment environment that allows European and Indonesian business to grow together," said Phil Hogan, the EU Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The EU is currently Indonesia's fourth largest trading partner and the second largest export market with trade value of US$26.1 billion in 2015. The EIBD 2016 was supported by the European Commission, hosted by the EU-Indonesia Business Network (EIBN) and successfully organized by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), together with five European Chambers of Commerce in Indonesia (BritCham, EKONID, EuroCham, IFCCI and INA).

The EU-Indonesia Business Dialogue was first launched in 2009 in Brussels as an initiative between the EU and the Indonesian government. The EIBD is the core forum of private business and government representatives and provides a platform for business communities and business leaders to have a constructive dialogue with Indonesian and EU representatives, as well as to provide economic recommendations to ensure that business voices are heard.